Malaysia Airlines Berhad has exercised the lease option for a 12-year lease agreement for an additional two new Airbus A350-900s with Air Lease Corporation.

The transaction is pursuant to the option provided under the existing Lease Agreement for the four A350-900s signed by both parties in September last year.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad chief executive Christoph Mueller said: “The additional two Airbus A350-900s will complement the existing four that is on order to reach a critical fleet size, allowing standby aircraft for any scheduled maintenance and enabling future network expansion.

“Technological and innovative advancements make flying this aircraft a real pleasure and it will bring a whole new experience to our offerings, with the aircraft able to operate non-stop from Kuala Lumpur to London and throughout Asia.”

Mueller added: “We are very pleased to partner with Air Lease Corporation again on this strategic transaction.”
Powered by two Rolls Royce Trent XWB-84 engines, the A350 aircraft are from ALC’s order book with Airbus and will be delivered in 2018.

“ALC couldn’t be more pleased to place these two additional aircraft with Malaysia Airlines Berhad.

“In addition to the four A350-900s placed by ALC last year, we are confident that these two additional A350-900 aircraft will further maximise Malaysia Airlines’ business operations as well as global growth,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Air Lease Corporation chairman.